Production of artificial filaments or threads by the dry spinning method



Jan. 16, 1934. w. l. TAYLOR 1,943,353

PRODUCTION OF ARTIFICIAL FILAMENTS OR THREADS BY THE DRY SPINNING METHOD Filed Sept. 17, 1929 PIC-L1- FIGS- WXLUM Wm WM g? H m g Patented Jan. 16, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PRODUCTION OF ARTIFICIAL FILAMENTS OR THREADS BY METHOD THE DRY SPINNING Application September 17, 1929, Serial No. 393,288, and in Great Britain October 6, 1928 9 Claims.

This invention relates to the production of artificial silk or other artificial filaments or threads, and more particularly to filaments or threads having a basis of cellulose acetate or other cellulose derivatives.

According to the invention, filaments or threads of cellulose acetate have imparted to them a modified lustre in the course of their production by the dry or evaporative method, i. e., by ex truding solutions of the cellulose acetate or other cellulose derivative in a volatile solvent into a current of evaporative medium, by applying a substance that has the property of modifying the lustre of the filaments. The modification effected may be in the direction of reduced lustre or of enhanced lustre, depending on the substance employed.

The substance is applied while the filaments contain a substantial proportion of residual solvent, and, preferably, inside the spinningchamher or cell. For instance, it may be applied as soon after the extrusion of the filaments as possible without causing damage to the comparatively weak filaments by contact with the applying means.

As an example of substances serving to reduce the lustre of the filaments may be cited water, and of those enhancing the lustre, xylene. The substances are conveniently applied by means of a wick or roller charged or moistened in any suitable way. Suitable adjustment may be provided for the wick or other applying device or for the supporting vessel to enable the filaments to be treated with the lustre-modifying substance at any desired distance from the jet face.

From the wick or other applying device, the filaments continue through the evaporative medium and may proceed to a winding, or twisting and winding device, preferably arranged outside the chamber or cell.

Among the cellulose derivatives that may form the basis of the spinning solutions are cellulose formate, propionate, or butyrate, thiocarbamic or alkoxy-alkacyl esters of cellulose, methyl, ethyl or benzyl cellulose and the condensation products of cellulose and glycols or other polyhydric alcohols.

The accompanying drawing illustrates by way of example how the invention may be carried into effect, but the following description is not to be regarded as in any way limitative. The operation will be described with reference to a downward spinning process in which a number of filaments are spun simultaneously from spinning orifices arranged in a circle, though the invention may equally well be applied in processes involving upward spinning.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a vertical section of one form of apparatus;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on a larger scale of part of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section of a further form of apparatus; and

Figs. 4 and 5 show on a larger scale two views of a detail of Fig. 3, Fig. 4 being a section on the line 4- 1 of Fig. 5, and Fig. 5 a section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Referring to Fig. 1:

Suitably supported inside the spinning cell 6 6' and at some distance below the jet '7 is a vessel 8 charged with the lustre-modifying substance, the vessel being carried by a bracket 9 mounted on the wall of the cell. An arm 10 is carried on the outside Wall of the vessel 8 and supports a wick 11 which passes fromthe end of the arm 10 over the top of the vessel 8 into the liquid contained in the vessel. Liquid is supplied to the vessel 8 througha tube 12 passing from the Wall of the cell.

In the figure, the filaments 25 are shown emerging from a multi-filament disc type nozzle, and in operation, the vessel 8, or the wick 11, is moved to bring the wick into contact with the filaments 25 after extrusion has commenced. The bundle of filaments is flattened so that all the filaments are engaged by the wick, touching of the filaments against each other being avoided. This flattening of the bundle is, of course, unnecessary when a line jet is employed. The vessel 8 is preferably adjustable as to height in the cell 6 so that the distance of the wick from the jet 7 can be regulated. The wick itself may, however, be adjustable relatively to the vessel.

Referring now to Figs. 3-5, a liquid applying 1 device is shown which is particularly suitable for use with a line jet, though it may be employed in connection with disc type jets. The device shown consists of a wick-supporting member 13 of the section shown in Fig. 5, the member tapering to a nose 14, on the outside of which is secured a wick 15. A row of perforations or slots or a single slot 16 is formed along the edge of the nose to allow liquid to pass to the interior of the member 13 to the wick 15. The liquid is supplied by a tube 17 communicating through the wall 18 of the cell 19 with a vessel 20, slots or perforations being formed in the part of the tube 17 within the member 13. The tube 17 also serves as a pivotal support for the member 13, 6

the tube 21 attached to the member 13 sliding over the tube 17. A handle 22 is secured to the tube 21 outside the cell, and serves to manipulate the member 13 so as to bring the wick 15 into contact with the filaments 23 proceeding from the line jet 24.

In operation, extrusion commences from the jet with the member 13 held in position clear of the filaments. Then by operating the handle 22, the member 13 is rotated about its pivot 17 carefully to bring the wick 15 into contact with the line of filaments. Liquid passes from the vessel 20 through the pipe 17 to the interior of the member 13 and escapes through the hole 16 for application to the filaments from the wick 15'.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:-

1. Process for the production of filaments of organic derivatives of cellulose by the dry-spinning method, said process comprising extruding filaments of organic derivatives of cellulose into an evaporative atmosphere applying a lustremodifying liquid to the said filaments and subjecting said filaments to the further action of said evaporative atmosphere while they contain a relatively high proportion of solvent.

2. Process for the production of filaments of cellulose acetate by the dry-spinning method, said process comprising extruding filaments of cellulose acetate into an evaporative atmosphere, applying a lustre modifying liquid to the said filaments and subjecting said filaments to the further action of said evaporative atmosphere while they contain a relatively high proportion of solvent.

3. Process for the production of filaments of organic derivatives of cellulose by the dry-spinning method, said process comprising extruding filaments of organic derivatives of cellulose into a secluded evaporative atmosphere, applying a lustre modifying liquid to the said filaments in the said secluded atmosphere and subjecting said filaments to the further action of said evaporative atmosphere while they contain a relatively high proportion of solvent. f

4. Process for the production of filaments of cellulose acetate by the dry-spinning method, said process comprising extruding filaments of cellulose acetate into a secluded evaporative atmophere, applying a lustre modifying liquid to the said filaments in the said secluded atmosphere and subjecting said filaments to the further action of said evaporative atmosphere while they contain a relatively high proportion of solvent.

5. Process for the production of filaments of cellulose acetate by the dry-spinning method, said process comprising extruding filaments of cellulose acetate into a secluded evaporative atmosphere, applying xylene to the said filaments in the said secluded atmosphere and subjecting said filaments to the further action of said evaporative atmosphere while they contain a relatively high proportion of solvent.

6. Process for the production of filaments of cellulose acetate by the dry-spinning method, said process comprising extruding filaments of cellulose acetate into a secluded evaporative atmosphere, applying water to the said filaments in the said secluded atmosphere and while said filaments contain a relatively high proportion of solvent subjecting said filaments to the further action of said evaporative atmosphere.

7. Process for the production of filaments of organic derivatives of cellulose by the dry-spinning method, said process comprising extruding filaments of organic derivatives of cellulose into a secluded evaporative atmosphere, applying a lustre modifying liquid to the said filaments by surface contact therewith in the said secluded atmosphere and while said filaments contain a relatively high proportion of solvent subjecting said filaments to the further action of said evaporative atmosphere.

8. Process for the production of filaments of cellulose acetate by the dry-spinning method, said process comprising extruding filaments of cellulose acetate into a secluded evaporative atmosphere, applying xylene to the said filaments by surface contact therewith in the said secluded atmosphere and while said filaments contain a relatively high proportion of solvent subjecting said filaments to the further action of said evaporative atmosphere.

9. Process for the production of filaments of cellulose acetate by the dry-spinning method, said process comprising extruding filaments of cellulose acetate into a secluded evaporative atmosphere, applying water to the said filaments by surface contact therewith in the said secluded atmosphere and while said filaments contain a relatively high proportion of solvent subjecting said filaments to the further action of said evaporative atmosphere.

WILLIAM IVAN TAYLOR. 

